Dental implant installation method and device

ABSTRACT

A dental implant installation method and device for picking up a prosthetic support implant, transporting it to an osteotomy site, then transmitting rotational force from a drill to the implant to thread the implant into bone tissue at the osteotomy site. The device includes a driver head configured to engage and transmit turning forces to an axially internal drive socket of a threaded implant formed in the floor of an axially outer prosthetic interface socket of the implant. An aft end of the device is configured to releasably and engage a drill and to transmit turning forces from such drill to the device. A retainer supported on the shaft releasably engages an implant when the driver head is inserted through the prosthetic interface socket and into the drive socket of the implant. The retainer provides an interference fit that allows the device to pick up and hold the implant for transport, but doesn&#39;t interfere with the shaft of the driver when in motion.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates generally to the installation of dental prosthetic support implants, more specifically, to a method and device for engaging and removing a dental implant from its packaging, then transmitting rotational force from a drill, by hand or with a ratchet to the implant to thread the implant into bone tissue.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

[0006] Dental prosthetic support implants are used to support prosthetic teeth on a patient's jaw bone. They are generally delivered in a sterile condition within a storage vial. To reduce risk of infection, the implants must be removed from the vial and installed in a manner that prevents contamination. Each implant generally includes a threaded shaft that is threaded into a pilot hole (osteotomy site) formed in a jaw bone through an opening formed by cutting and laying back a surgical flap of the gum tissue covering the bone. Once the implant has been installed, either at the time of implantation of at a later time, the gum tissue is closed around the implant with a stem of the implant protruding upward through the gum tissue. Once the gum tissue has healed around the implant, a prosthetic tooth is formed around or mounted on the protruding implant stem. Some implants also include hexagonal prosthetic interface sockets formed axially downward into the respective top ends of their stems. The hexagonal configuration of such a socket serves to prevent relative rotation of a prosthetic tooth that has been formed onto the stem and into the socket. The socket may be internal or external and of any suitable shape, e.g., octagonal, triangular or a spline connection.

[0007] It is known to use a dental implant installation device to install an implant of this type by engaging and transmitting rotational force from a drill to the implant. For example, Intra-Lock, the assignee of the present invention, has produced a line of implant installation devices and implants known as the Conic Line Mount System. The Conic Line Mount device includes an elongated shaft and a hexagonal, tapered driver head disposed at a forward end of the shaft. The driver head is shaped to engage an axially internal hexagonal drive socket of a specially-designed dental implant, bypassing the prosthetic interface socket of the implant. The internal drive socket is formed in an axially inner wall of the outer prosthetic interface socket preventing damage to the prosthetic interface socket by providing an alternative driver engagement socket. An aft end of the shaft of the device includes a latch and shank configuration for releasably engaging a drill and transmitting turning forces from such drill to the device. However, the Conic Line Mount driver device can't positively engage and retain implants for transport to an osteotomy site. Implants are supported loosely on the Conic Line Mount driver and, if not supported by other means, can fall off the driver device. Also, torque loading is limited for this system because the tapered head of the Conic Line Mount driver device must engage generally parallel walls of the drive socket. Also, the diameter might not allow the driver to withstand heavy torque in dense bone, and the driver might break. That's why the conic driver has evolved to mimic the hex driver. The conic driver has an identical shape but is homothetically bigger.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,194 issued Mar. 18, 1980 to Dalise discloses a dental implant that includes a post having a base engageable within a natural tooth root and an upper end engageable within a generally cylindrical aperture in the base of a dental prosthesis. A circumferential kerf is formed into an outer circumferential surface of the post, and a corresponding kerf is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the aperture in the prosthesis. A resilient ring is received in and around and is retained by the circumferential kerf in the post. The kerf in the prosthesis receives the resilient ring when the denture is forced downward onto the implant post. The ring thus provides circumferential retention of the denture on the implant post.

[0009] A more effective implant installation device and method is needed—one that can positively engage, pick up, retain, and transmit rotational force to a prosthetic support implant to thread the implant into bone tissue without compromising sterility. The industry's answer to this need has been the use of an implant mount comprising a metal counterpart that retains an implant by engaging the implant's anti-rotational device (a hex nut, for example). Problems associated with such implant mounts include the cost of fabricating a complex machined part, the need to make it disposable, potential deformation of a prosthetic connection due to the high amount of torque that must be applied to the connection to drive the implant into dense bone, and the time needed to unfasten the mount once the implant has been placed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF T INVENTION

[0010] The invention is a dental implant installation device for engaging and picking up a prosthetic support implant then transmitting rotational force from a drill to the implant to thread the implant into bone tissue. The device includes an elongated shaft and a driver head disposed at a forward end of the shaft. The device is configured to engage and transmit turning forces to an axially internal drive socket of a threaded implant, bypassing an axially outer prosthetic interface socket of the implant. An aft end of the shaft is configured to releasably engage a drill and to transmit turning forces from such drill to the device. The dental implant installation device also includes a retainer supported on the shaft and configured to releasably engage an implant when the driver head is inserted through the prosthetic interface socket and into the drive socket of an implant. Therefore, a dental implant installation method and device constructed according to the invention is better able to positively engage and retain an implant for transport from a sterile storage vial to an osteotomy site for installation.

[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the driver head includes generally parallel driver head facets configured to positively engage complementary and generally parallel facets of an implant drive socket. This provides greater contact area and prevents stripping under higher torque loads experienced when an implant encounters dense bone tissue.

[0012] The invention also includes a method for engaging and picking up a prosthetic support implant then transmitting rotational force from a drill to the implant to thread the implant into bone tissue. According to the method, one can install a prosthetic support implant by providing a threaded implant having an axially outer prosthetic interface socket and an axially inner drive socket formed in an axially inner wall of the prosthetic interface socket. Also provided is a dental implant installation device comprising an elongated shaft, a driver head disposed at a forward end of the shaft and configured to engage and transmit turning forces to the drive socket of the implant, and a retainer supported on the shaft. The driver head of the device is inserted through the prosthetic interface socket and into the drive socket until the retainer is compressed between the shaft and the prosthetic interface socket. The implant is then lifted and transported to an osteotomy site by lifting and carrying the installation device with the implant supported on the device. The implant is then inserted and threaded into the pilot hole formed at the osteotomy site by applying torque to the implant installation device. The device is then withdrawn from the implant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in connection with the following detailed description and drawings, in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a dental implant installation device constructed according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a side view of the dental implant installation device of FIG. 1 with an O-ring of the device removed for clarity;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a forward end view of the dental implant installation device of FIG. 2;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the dental implant installation device of FIG. 1 inserted into a threaded dental implant;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a side view of a dental implant installation device constructed according to a second embodiment of the invention; and

[0019]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a dental implant disposed within a protective vial with its cap removed exposing a prosthetic interface socket of the implant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION EMBODIMENT(S)

[0020] A first embodiment of a dental implant 12 installation device constructed according to the present invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIGS. 1-4. A second embodiment is generally indicated at 10′ in FIG. 5. Reference numerals with the designation prime (') in FIG. 5 indicate alternative configurations of elements that also appear in the first embodiment. Unless indicated otherwise, where a portion of the following description uses a reference numeral to refer to the figures, that portion of the description is intended to apply equally to elements designated by primed numerals in FIGS. 1-4.

[0021] Most broadly described, the device 10 is designed to engage a prosthetic support implant such as the implant shown at 12 in FIGS. 4 and 6. When engaged, the device 10 is capable of transmitting rotational force from a drill to the implant 12 to thread the implant 12 into bone tissue. The device 10 includes an elongated shaft 14 and a driver head 16 disposed at a forward end of the shaft 14. As is best shown in FIG. 4, the driver head 16 is shaped to engage and transmit turning forces to an axially internal drive socket 18 of a threaded implant 12. In so doing, the head 16 bypasses an axially outer prosthetic interface socket 20 of the implant 12. An aft end 22 of the shaft 14 releasably engages a drill to transmit turning forces from such drill to the device 10. A retainer 24 supported on the shaft 14 releasably engages an implant 12 when the driver head 16 is inserted through the prosthetic interface socket 20 and into the drive socket 18 of an implant 12.

[0022] The retainer 24 provides an interference fit between the device 10 and the prosthetic interface socket 20 of an implant 12 sufficient to prevent an implant 12 from falling off the device 10 when the device 10 is being used to retrieve such an implant 12 from a sterile storage vial or the like. A dental implant 12 is shown stored in such a vial 26 in FIG. 6. The retainer 24 also prevents an engaged dental implant 12 from falling off the driver head 16 as the device 10 is used to carry the implant 12 to an osteotomy site and to insert the implant 12 into a pilot hole formed in the bone at the site. However, the interference fit is not so snug as to prevent the device 10 from being easily removed from an implant 12 once the implant 12 has been fully installed.

[0023] The retainer 24 includes a resilient rubber O-ring 28 supported on an insertion portion 30 of the shaft 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The O-ring 28 is inserted with the insertion portion 30 of the shaft 14 into the prosthetic interface socket 20 of an implant 12. To prevent the O-ring 28 from sliding off during insertion, it's supported against axial motion relative to the shaft 14. As best shown in FIG. 4, the O-ring 28 has an outer diameter that's greater than the diameter of the insertion portion 30 of the shaft 14. As is also best shown in FIG. 4, the O-ring 28's outer diameter is also greater than the smallest diametrical distance measured across and between opposing facets 32 of the prosthetic interface socket 20. This is to insure an interference fit sufficient to retain the insert on the installation device 10. In other embodiments, the O-ring might comprise a material other than rubber.

[0024] The retainer 24 also includes a circumferential kerf 34 formed around the insertion portion 30 of the shaft 14 to receive and support the O-ring 28 against axial movement relative to the shaft 14. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the kerf 34 is essentially a circumferential trench formed around the shaft 14 and defined by a cylindrical kerf floor 36 and forward and aft parallel annular sidewalls 38, 40 that extend integrally and radially outward from the kerf floor 36. The diameter of the cylindrical kerf floor 36 approximates the inner diameter of the O-ring 28 so that the O-ring 28 can be mounted around the kerf floor 36. A forward wall 38 of the kerf 34 is defined by a forward annular lip 42 that extends integrally and radially outward from the shaft 14. A leading edge of the forward lip 42 comprises a frusto-conical ramp 44 shaped to help co-axially align the O-ring 28 with the prosthetic interface socket 20 during insertion of the device 10. The ramp 44 also eases installation of the O-ring 28 in the kerf 34. The O-ring 28 is installed by pushing it axially over the frusto-conical ramp 44, causing it to distend radially until past the forward lip 42, then to retract radially as it moves into kerf 34.

[0025] The aft wall 40 of the kerf 34 is defined by an aft annular lip that extends integrally and radially outward from the shaft 14. The aft wall 40 prevents the O-ring 28 from being forced axially aft along the shaft 14 during insertion.

[0026] The aft end 22 of the shaft 14 has a latch and shank configuration adapted to engage a drill chuck. The latch and shank configuration of the aft end 22 of the shaft 14 is shaped according to ISO 1797-1 with edge breaks per AS342, note 3. However, in other embodiments the aft end 22 of the shaft 14 may have any shape necessary to connect to any one of a number of different drills known in the art.

[0027] The shaft 14 includes an alignment section 46 disposed adjacent and aft of the kerf 34. The alignment section 46 rotationally aligns the drive head 16 for engagement with the drive socket 18. It accomplishes this by engaging corners formed between facets 32 of the prosthetic engagement socket. The prosthetic interface socket 20 is a hexagonal socket having six facets disposed so as to form six corners at their interfaces. As such, the alignment section 46 has the general shape of a triangular prism with the three apexes 48 of the triangular prism shaped and positioned to engage every other corner formed between the six facets 32 of the prosthetic engagement socket. The leading edges 50 of the apexes 48 of the triangular prism are beveled to help co-axially align the insertion portion 30 of the shaft 14 and the O-ring 28 with the prosthetic interface socket 20 during axial insertion of the device 10.

[0028] The driver head 16 is circumferentially faceted, having a hexagonal configuration including six facets 52 arranged to form a hexagonal prism, i.e., a “hex head”. As best shown in FIG. 4, the driver head 16 is shaped to positively engage complimentary and generally parallel hexagonally configured facets 54 of a circumferentially faceted implant 12 drive socket 18. The hexagonal drive socket 18 is formed in an axially inner wall 56 of an outer prosthetic interface socket 20 of a dental implant 12. The driver head facets 52 are disposed in a generally parallel disposition to one another so as to positively engage the complimentary and generally parallel facets 54 of an implant 12 drive socket 18.

[0029] A main portion 58 of the shaft 14 and an aft end of a driver shaft portion 60 of the shaft 14 each have larger diameters than the driver head 16. The driver shaft portion 60 of the shaft 14 is tapered from the aft end of the shaft 14 to the smaller diameter driver head 16. The tapered portion of the shaft 14 includes facets 62 corresponding to and aligned with the facets 52 of the driver head 16. Unlike the driver head 16 of the first embodiment, the driver head 16′ of the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5 has the same approximate diameter as the aft end of a driver shaft portion 60′ of its shaft 14′.

[0030] In practice, a dental implant 12 can be installed according to the invention by first inserting the driver head 16 of the device 10 through the prosthetic interface socket 20 and into the drive socket 18 of an implant 12. Since dental implants 12 are generally shipped and stored in sterile vials 26, the vial 26 containing an implant 12 must first be opened to expose the prosthetic interface socket 20 of the implant 12 as shown in FIG. 6. The driver head 16 is inserted through the prosthetic interface socket 20 until the retainer O-ring 28 is compressed between the shaft 14 and the prosthetic interface socket 20 as shown in FIG. 4. The implant 12 is then extracted from its vial 26 by pulling axially aft on the device 10 and away from the vial 26 with the implant 12 supported by the retainer O-ring 28 from the insertion portion 30 of the shaft 14. The device 10 can then be used to carry the implant 12 to an osteotomy site without having to touch and contaminate the implant 12. The aft end 22 of the shaft 14 of the device 10 can be connected to a drill either before or after the implant 12 is removed from its protective vial 26. A threaded tip of the implant 12 can then be presented in a pilot hole at the osteotomy site and the drill actuated to screw the implant 12 into the bone.

[0031] Should the implant 12 encounter dense bone material during insertion, the broad contact area between the parallel hex facets of the driver head 16 and the parallel hex facets of the implant 12 drive socket 18 will prevent the driver head 16 from stripping the drive socket 18. And, because there is no metal to metal contact between the device 10 and the prosthetic interface socket 20, the insertion process cannot damage the prosthetic interface socket 20. Once the implant 12 has been fully inserted into the bone, the device 10 can be removed from the implant 12 by simply pulling axially outward on the device 10.

[0032] The invention provides an implant installation device design that allows a single device to be used to install a plurality of implants without wearing out its driver head. Because the cost of such a device can easily exceed the cost of the implant it is designed to install, the reusability of this design results in a significant cost savings.

[0033] This description is intended to illustrate certain embodiments of the invention rather than to limit the invention. Therefore, it uses descriptive rather than limiting words. Obviously, it's possible to modify this invention from what the description teaches. Within the scope of the claims, one may practice the invention other than as described. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dental implant installation device for engaging and picking up a prosthetic support implant then transmitting rotational force from a drill to the implant to thread the implant into bone tissue, the device comprising: an elongated shaft; a driver head disposed at a forward end of the shaft and configured to engage and transmit turning forces to an axially internal drive socket of a threaded implant, bypassing an axially outer prosthetic interface socket of the implant; an aft end of the shaft being configured to releasably and engage a drill and to transmit turning forces from such drill to the device; and a retainer supported on the shaft and configured to releasably engage an implant when the driver head is inserted through the prosthetic interface socket and into the drive socket of an implant.
 2. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 1 in which the retainer is configured to provide an interference fit between the device and the prosthetic interface socket of an implant.
 3. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 2 in which: the retainer includes a resilient O-ring supported on an insertion portion of the shaft configured to be inserted into the prosthetic interface and drive sockets of an implant; the O-ring is supported against axial motion relative to the shaft; and the O-ring has an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the insertion portion of the shaft and greater than the smallest diametrical distance measured across and between opposing facets of the prosthetic interface socket.
 4. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 3 in which: the insertion portion of the shaft includes a circumferential kerf configured to receive and support the O-ring against axial movement relative to the shaft; and the inner diameter of the O-ring approximates the diameter of the kerf.
 5. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 3 in which the O-ring comprises rubber.
 6. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 4 in which the kerf is disposed aft of the tapered portion of the shaft.
 7. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 6 in which: a forward wall of the kerf is defined by an annular lip extending integrally and radially outward from the shaft; and a leading edge of the annular lip comprises a frusto-conical ramp configured to help coaxially align the O-ring with the prosthetic interface socket during insertion of the device.
 8. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 1 in which the aft end of the shaft has a latch and shank configuration.
 9. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 4 in which: the shaft includes an alignment section disposed adjacent and aft of the kerf; and the alignment section is configured to rotationally align the drive head for engagement with the drive socket by engaging corners formed between facets of the prosthetic engagement socket.
 10. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 9 in which: the prosthetic interface socket is a hexagonal socket; the alignment section has the general shape of a triangular prism; and the three apexes of the triangular prism are shaped and positioned to engage every other corner formed between six parallel facets of the hexagonal prosthetic engagement socket.
 11. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 10 in which leading edges of the apexes of the triangular prism are beveled.
 12. A dental implant installation device for engaging and picking up a prosthetic support implant then transmitting rotational force from a drill to the implant to thread the implant into bone tissue, the device comprising: an elongated shaft; a driver head disposed at a forward end of the shaft and configured to engage and transmit turning forces to an axially internal drive socket of a threaded implant, bypassing an axially outer prosthetic interface socket of the implant; an aft end of the shaft being configured to releasably and engage a drill and to transmit turning forces from such drill to the device; and the driver head includes generally parallel driver head facets configured to positively engage complementary and generally parallel facets of an implant drive socket.
 13. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 12 in which the parallel driver head facets are in a hexagonal configuration adapted to positively engage complementary and generally parallel hexagonally-configured facets of an implant drive socket.
 14. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 13 in which the shaft has the same approximate diameter as the driver head.
 15. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 13 in which: the shaft has a larger diameter than the driver head; and the shaft is tapered along a portion of its length adjacent the driver head from the larger diameter of the shaft to the smaller diameter of the driver head.
 16. A dental implant installation device as defined in claim 15 in which the tapered portion of the shaft includes facets corresponding to and aligned with the facets of the driver head.
 17. A method for engaging and picking up a prosthetic support implant then transmitting rotational force from a drill to the implant to thread the implant into bone tissue; the method including the steps of: providing a threaded implant having an axially outer prosthetic interface socket and an axially inner drive socket formed in an axially inner wall of the prosthetic interface socket; providing a dental implant installation device comprising an elongated shaft, a driver head disposed at a forward end of the shaft and configured to engage and transmit turning forces to the drive socket of the implant, and a retainer supported on the shaft; inserting the driver head of the device through the prosthetic interface socket and into the drive socket until the retainer is compressed between the shaft and the prosthetic interface socket; lifting and transporting the implant by lifting and carrying the installation device with the implant supported on the device; threading the implant into bone tissue by applying torque to the implant installation device; and withdrawing the device from the implant.
 18. The method of claim 17 in which the step of providing a threaded implant includes providing the implant in a sealed vial.
 19. The method of claim 18 including the additional step of opening the vial to expose the prosthetic interface and drive sockets before the step of inserting the driver head into the implant.
 20. The method of claim 19 in which the step of inserting the driver head of the device includes supporting the insert for driver head insertion by holding the vial containing the insert.
 21. The method of claim 17 including the additional steps of forming a pilot hole in the bone tissue and inserting a threaded tip of the implant into the pilot hole before the step of threading the implant into the bone tissue. 